The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday directed the Punjab Police to provide adequate security to the families of two victims of the December 11 Abohar incident.

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday directed the Punjab Police to provide adequate security to the families of two victims of the December 11 Abohar incident.

Bhim Sain was brutally murdered, while Gurjant Singh was injured in an attack at the farmhouse of liquor baron and Akali halqa in-charge Shiv Lal Doda.

The families had sought the security cover of a central force or police of any state other than Punjab. The court bench of justice HS Sidhu disposed of their petition and directed the government to provide five policemen each - one assistant sub-inspector and four constables - to both families.

The court also observed that if at any stage the petitioners felt threatened or aggrieved, they could approach the court again. However, following an assurance from the local police, it did not order security cover of any central forces or police of another state.

The court was hearing a petition by Bhim’s father Kapoor Chand, wife Kaushalya Devi and Gurjant’s brother Ranjit Singh.

As per the petitioners, Bhim and Gurjant were called by Doda and his associates to his farmhouse on December 11 as part of a conspiracy. Bhim’s hands were chopped off, while his legs were slashed by the assailants. Gurjant’s hand was also cut off.

Earlier, the state government told the court that Gurjant’s family had refused security and approached the local administration in Fazilka to grant them an arms licence. Regarding Kapoor Chand’s family, the court was told that they had already been provided security. The local superintendent of police and other officials were present in the court and assured that due diligence would be observed so that families felt safe and secure.

The petitioners had alleged that the local police were a puppet in the hands of Doda and other criminals involved in the gruesome killing. It was also alleged that the local police, at Doda’s behest, had registered a false rape case against Bhim.